First Impressions of the Iraq update (updated)

I've got to think about this for a bit. Preferably out in the shop while making sawdust, which I'm off to do momentarily. I've specifically avoided making any posts on the war because, as most of you know, it's personal to me. I find it very hard to be objective, especially when it comes to the situation in Iraq.

First impressions of Gen. Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker's status report in front of the Congressional Hearing this morning:

1) Blah, blah, tell us something we don't already know. Did you guys write your speeches by extracting sound clips from the last 6 months of CNN?

2) The two them didn't compare notes beforehand. What does it say for our chances of success (however you define it, different topic) when the Head of Mission and the Commanding General obviously aren't spending a lot of time together?

3) Crocker's report was a ten minute apology for the al-Maliki government's failure to achieve anything. He also stinks as a public speaker.

4) Petraeus thinks the real threat is Iran, and what he really wants is permission to do something about it.

5) The members of the Congressional panel looked like constipated escapees from a nursing home going through the motions. They already knew what was in the report, and they had already made up their collective minds - it was apparent in their expressions. I doubt even one of them was listening to anything the General or the Ambassador had to say. This pisses me off. They asked for the report - they should at least do the General and Ambassador the simple courtesy of paying attention.

6) If you want to be taken seriously, don't dress up in pink statue of liberty costumes and fling shit like sun-crazed monkeys in a Congressional hearing room. (Update: as somebody just pointed out to me, flinging shit like a sun-crazed monkey in a Congressional hearing is a congressman's job, this should not be attempted by amateurs). Just saying.

7) Update: Senator Craig is still a backpedaling jackass. This has nothing to do with the topic, I just thought it needed to be said.


More later, after I have time to think about it. That's going to be at least one full 55gal dust-collector bin of chips, so it may be a while. Enjoy your day.